Windows XP, USB, "plug and play" woes.
Part Scavenger, Tue May 02 2006, 02:18AMI've got a problem with Windows XP (who doesn't, but anyway...) I've got an "external mass media device" hooked up via USB. It's an external hard drive enclosure. While transferring information, Windows XP makes a sound like a media device disconnecting, and then another exactly like the one you hear when you plug in a new USB/IEEE/anything plug+play device. It's completely random as far as I can tell.
After this, the transfer rate skyrockets, the CPU goes to 100% and the rest of the file is corrupted.
This didn't used to happen but only once in a while, but then our computer got a virus and consequently a fresh format, install of XP, etc. It was irritating before, now I simply can't transfer files anymore.
I have unplugged every unnecessary device from the computer, restarted, and it still happens. Same in safe mode. I turned off the "allow turn off of USB port for power saving" feature on all the USB hubs, disabled antivirius, everything I can think of. Note, it's really pissing my dad off that he can't transfer his files, so any help would be appreciated.
What am I missing?Another question I have is how do you up the allowable bandwith on a certain port? All my USB ports are locked between 9 and 11% bandwidth, and I'd like to be able to use one full blast every once in a while.
I've got Windows XP Professional SP2, 2.4GHz chip, ~512Mb RAM, USB 2.0/1.1 ports and I'm trying to move ~500Mb to 2Gig files from a USB drive to the Comp's HD.
Re: Windows XP, USB, "plug and play" woes.
Desmogod, Tue May 02 2006, 02:29AM
Ahhh, plug and pray :)
What make is your external drive? Not a LaCie is it?
Desmogod, Tue May 02 2006, 02:29AM
Ahhh, plug and pray :)
What make is your external drive? Not a LaCie is it?
Re: Windows XP, USB, "plug and play" woes.
Part Scavenger, Tue May 02 2006, 03:16AM
El-Cheapo Inc. Actually, I don't remember it having a name. I really don't think that's the problem however, it does it with other devices too, like flash drives, etc.
Part Scavenger, Tue May 02 2006, 03:16AM
El-Cheapo Inc. Actually, I don't remember it having a name. I really don't think that's the problem however, it does it with other devices too, like flash drives, etc.
Re: Windows XP, USB, "plug and play" woes.
Electroholic, Tue May 02 2006, 04:03AM
The female usb jacks on my laptop are a little lose, but it is find as long as i dont' touch it during file transfer.
Electroholic, Tue May 02 2006, 04:03AM
The female usb jacks on my laptop are a little lose, but it is find as long as i dont' touch it during file transfer.
Re: Windows XP, USB, "plug and play" woes.
Part Scavenger, Tue May 02 2006, 03:07PM
I don't think that's it either. I will do it with no one in the room as well...
Part Scavenger, Tue May 02 2006, 03:07PM
I don't think that's it either. I will do it with no one in the room as well...
Re: Windows XP, USB, "plug and play" woes.
Bjørn, Tue May 02 2006, 05:39PM
Your problem in general does not sound like a plug and play problem. It could be a bad driver, a bad USB controller or a power supply problem. Maybe you are pulling too much power from the USB port and the polyfuse trips and resets itself.
Since it got worse after a new install it points to a bad driver, locate the latest driver for the USB chipset and all other chips on the motherboard.
Bjørn, Tue May 02 2006, 05:39PM
Another question I have is how do you up the allowable bandwith on a certain port?Usually there are reserved a small amout for realtime applications, if a large amount is reserved then there is probably something wrong. If the normal amount is reserved then devices and drivers expect that and you should not change it. There used to be a utility for changing settings like that, I can't recall the name.
Your problem in general does not sound like a plug and play problem. It could be a bad driver, a bad USB controller or a power supply problem. Maybe you are pulling too much power from the USB port and the polyfuse trips and resets itself.
Since it got worse after a new install it points to a bad driver, locate the latest driver for the USB chipset and all other chips on the motherboard.
Re: Windows XP, USB, "plug and play" woes.
Part Scavenger, Tue May 02 2006, 07:51PM
That sounds like a good idea. I'll try to find some new drivers. I don't think it's the power supply; according to windows, I was pulling 10mA out of an allowable 500mA for the USB bus. Thanks for the input, I don't know why I didn't think about new drivers.
EDIT=> I re-did the drivers, and it's still being a pain. The ports will reset without it doing anything, so now I'm sure it's not power. BTW, there were no new drivers. I just re-installed them.
Part Scavenger, Tue May 02 2006, 07:51PM
That sounds like a good idea. I'll try to find some new drivers. I don't think it's the power supply; according to windows, I was pulling 10mA out of an allowable 500mA for the USB bus. Thanks for the input, I don't know why I didn't think about new drivers.
EDIT=> I re-did the drivers, and it's still being a pain. The ports will reset without it doing anything, so now I'm sure it's not power. BTW, there were no new drivers. I just re-installed them.
Re: Windows XP, USB, "plug and play" woes.
Bjørn, Tue May 02 2006, 08:53PM
Did you check all the other drivers needed for the motherboard? Have you checked the system event logs (contriol panel/administration) to se if there are any messages that coincides with the events? Does it still happen in safe mode?
Bjørn, Tue May 02 2006, 08:53PM
Did you check all the other drivers needed for the motherboard? Have you checked the system event logs (contriol panel/administration) to se if there are any messages that coincides with the events? Does it still happen in safe mode?
Re: Windows XP, USB, "plug and play" woes.
Part Scavenger, Thu May 04 2006, 01:20AM
Well, I don't know what happened. It went from doing it about every 2-3min, later over and over, then without changing anything, it started working and worked for about 2hrs until we were through.
Does that ring a bell to anybody? It's pretty weird to me.
Part Scavenger, Thu May 04 2006, 01:20AM
Well, I don't know what happened. It went from doing it about every 2-3min, later over and over, then without changing anything, it started working and worked for about 2hrs until we were through.
Does that ring a bell to anybody? It's pretty weird to me.
Re: Windows XP, USB, "plug and play" woes.
Desmogod, Thu May 04 2006, 01:49AM
Does it "fix itself" when the computer has been left switched on for a while? Could be a heat/expansion related issue.
Desmogod, Thu May 04 2006, 01:49AM
Does it "fix itself" when the computer has been left switched on for a while? Could be a heat/expansion related issue.
Re: Windows XP, USB, "plug and play" woes.
Part Scavenger, Thu May 04 2006, 02:54AM
The computer had been on for hours, so it was already "warmed up"
This is how it went IIRC:
2-3min delays between resets.
reboot
2-3mins like always...disable a bunch of programs...several minutes of 2-3min pulses...then steady increase until it was doing it continuously. About 10 min time.
reboot (not cold reboot)
2-3min like usual for about 15min, then it completely pis-adeared for about 1.5 hrs, which allowed me to finish copying files. I never heard it again. I can't figure out what changed, it should be exactly like the "first" one.
I'm usually really good with computers, and I work systematically, but I'm stumped. I ran some a linux liveCDs, and it doesn't seem to do it at all under Ubuntu, DSL, or Dyne:bolic. That makes me think it's not a hardware problem or the HD enclosure resetting itself. I think it's XP being screwy.
Is there anywhere I can go to watch which programs are doing what with the ports? Or a program to just lock them?
Part Scavenger, Thu May 04 2006, 02:54AM
The computer had been on for hours, so it was already "warmed up"
This is how it went IIRC:
2-3min delays between resets.
reboot
2-3mins like always...disable a bunch of programs...several minutes of 2-3min pulses...then steady increase until it was doing it continuously. About 10 min time.
reboot (not cold reboot)
2-3min like usual for about 15min, then it completely pis-adeared for about 1.5 hrs, which allowed me to finish copying files. I never heard it again. I can't figure out what changed, it should be exactly like the "first" one.
I'm usually really good with computers, and I work systematically, but I'm stumped. I ran some a linux liveCDs, and it doesn't seem to do it at all under Ubuntu, DSL, or Dyne:bolic. That makes me think it's not a hardware problem or the HD enclosure resetting itself. I think it's XP being screwy.
Is there anywhere I can go to watch which programs are doing what with the ports? Or a program to just lock them?
Re: Windows XP, USB, "plug and play" woes.
krenshala, Sun May 07 2006, 07:30PM
If the problem does not happen under the linux boot, then its definitely a software problem.
As Bjorn said, reinstall all related drivers. in this case that would be the chipset software for the motherboard, and from device manager the USB driver that is part of windows. if you tell it that it can search the internet when you do this it should download the latest version from Microsoft (usually the one that enables USB 2.0 to work correctly) and I believe it will start working correct after that.
Another possiblity is the drive needs an external power source. Some do, some don't, depending on the power requirements of the drive and what all you have installed in your computer that would compete for the electricity. If in doubt, the external power connection for the drive is never a bad thing (unless you get a power surge through it ;)).
krenshala, Sun May 07 2006, 07:30PM
If the problem does not happen under the linux boot, then its definitely a software problem.
As Bjorn said, reinstall all related drivers. in this case that would be the chipset software for the motherboard, and from device manager the USB driver that is part of windows. if you tell it that it can search the internet when you do this it should download the latest version from Microsoft (usually the one that enables USB 2.0 to work correctly) and I believe it will start working correct after that.
Another possiblity is the drive needs an external power source. Some do, some don't, depending on the power requirements of the drive and what all you have installed in your computer that would compete for the electricity. If in doubt, the external power connection for the drive is never a bad thing (unless you get a power surge through it ;)).
Re: Windows XP, USB, "plug and play" woes.
Steve Conner, Tue May 09 2006, 08:51AM
Does the machine have a Nvidia chipset? The USB controller on that chipset can be flakey. My computer at work has the NForce 4 (I think) and the USB ports would just act up randomly. One day the USB stopped working altogether, then something on the motherboard blew up and shorted out the power supply
Even if it's not the NForce thing, it still sounds like a hardware problem, like a loose connection in a USB lead somewhere. I think if one USB port throws its toys out of the pram hard enough (like shorting the 5v to ground) it can sometimes mess up the other ports. Linux may handle this differently, and contain fault conditions better.
I recently designed a USB product at work and I use USBVIEW.EXE when I'm debugging faulty units.
PS: As for the bandwidth thing, USB2.0 can push data around about 6 times faster than a good IDE hard drive can read and write it, so I don't think you'll be able to max the bandwidth indicator by transferring files.
Steve Conner, Tue May 09 2006, 08:51AM
Does the machine have a Nvidia chipset? The USB controller on that chipset can be flakey. My computer at work has the NForce 4 (I think) and the USB ports would just act up randomly. One day the USB stopped working altogether, then something on the motherboard blew up and shorted out the power supply
Even if it's not the NForce thing, it still sounds like a hardware problem, like a loose connection in a USB lead somewhere. I think if one USB port throws its toys out of the pram hard enough (like shorting the 5v to ground) it can sometimes mess up the other ports. Linux may handle this differently, and contain fault conditions better.
I recently designed a USB product at work and I use USBVIEW.EXE when I'm debugging faulty units.
PS: As for the bandwidth thing, USB2.0 can push data around about 6 times faster than a good IDE hard drive can read and write it, so I don't think you'll be able to max the bandwidth indicator by transferring files.
Re: Windows XP, USB, "plug and play" woes.
Part Scavenger, Mon May 22 2006, 02:33AM
No, at one point the video card was a GeForce MX4000 though... Sorry card BTW, I've never had so much trouble with a video card.
Also, I still don't know what's doing it, but I figured out how to keep it from happening. If you reboot the computer with the drive installed and turned on, then go directly to copying files without doing anything else it's fine. Weird. Ah, well, it works now.
Part Scavenger, Mon May 22 2006, 02:33AM
Does the machine have a Nvidia chipset?
No, at one point the video card was a GeForce MX4000 though... Sorry card BTW, I've never had so much trouble with a video card.
Also, I still don't know what's doing it, but I figured out how to keep it from happening. If you reboot the computer with the drive installed and turned on, then go directly to copying files without doing anything else it's fine. Weird. Ah, well, it works now.
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